Hybrids a hazard to the blind?

orracle · 10-03-2007, 09:50 AM

http://finance.comcast.net/www/news.html?x...;cvqh=itn_takei <_<

MegansPrius · 10-03-2007, 10:37 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(N_IL_Priusfan @ Oct 3 2007, 08:50 AM) [snapback]520548[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

http://finance.comcast.net/www/news.html?x...;cvqh=itn_takei <_<
[/b]

I'm guessing this is one of those stories that's going to pop up every six months or so. Got a lot of discussion last March.
http://priuschat.com/index.php?s=&show...st&p=395002
http://priuschat.com/index.php?s=&show...st&p=389516

madler · 10-03-2007, 11:00 AM

I just heard this on the radio this morning. The spokeswoman for some organization is seeking additions to clean car regulations in Maryland to (something like): "require that hybrids sound just like any other car, not matter what the power source of the car".

No mention on how exactly to do that. I can imagine giant speakers on the car playing the sound of a Hummer revving its engine.

Of course, bicycles don't sound like cars, and they're required to ride on the roads. They're actually a lot quieter than a coasting Prius.

A solution might be have hybrid and electric cars make a clicking noise when moving, like a bicycle with playing cards clipped into the spokes.

gippah · 10-03-2007, 11:06 AM

This "news" story is a few years old and for some reason was recently recycled.

Obviously this is a case of someone trying to manufacture anti-Hybrid news. You'll get used to reading this sort of thing as a Prius owner.

darelldd · 10-03-2007, 11:09 AM

Ahhh. I get so tired of this crap.

Where is the outrage about the hundreds of thousands of people that car exhaust kills, and the millions that it makes sick? We all have to look out for each other. Adding to the local noise pollution by making quiet cars louder is not the solution. Hey... how about this? Make all the loud cars quieter, and then you can hear the quiet cars...

PriuStorm · 10-03-2007, 11:13 AM

This was on my local news this morning, too.

If it's going to be required that the car make some kind of noise, it should be easy enough to program it to only come on when the car is in stealth mode.

In addition to the 'spoke-wheel' noise, I'd like to suggest a voice coming on, saying 'Car approaching' or something to that effect. Or perhaps, we could just have a speaker facing out/forward and pipe out the music/radio sounds of whatever's on the stereo at that moment the car is in stealth mode cruising around the neighborhood.

Skwyre7 · 10-03-2007, 11:14 AM

Why is it always about the blind people not being able to hear the hybrids? What about the deaf people? They can't hear them either!

(I know they can see them. It's a joke ... you know, ha ha ... [Silence] Sheesh, now I know how Tony feels.

)

zenMachine · 10-03-2007, 11:28 AM

Blind people shouldn't be allowed to drive hybrids. Period.

zenMachine · 10-03-2007, 12:23 PM

All kidding aside, I think it should be easy to implement some kind of RFID-based solution to allow anyone with an RFID receiver to detect an oncoming vehicle. Kinda like how tolltags and tollbooths work.

Hey, maybe I should patent this idea!

patsparks · 10-03-2007, 12:25 PM

What about a pair of those whistles that are meant to scare away roaming animals? or a cow bell?

10-03-2007, 11:13 AM	#6
PriuStorm Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Davis, CA Posts: 1,500 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #4 Thanks: 58 Thanked 33 Times in 23 Posts Friends: 8	This was on my local news this morning, too. If it's going to be required that the car make some kind of noise, it should be easy enough to program it to only come on when the car is in stealth mode. In addition to the 'spoke-wheel' noise, I'd like to suggest a voice coming on, saying 'Car approaching' or something to that effect. Or perhaps, we could just have a speaker facing out/forward and pipe out the music/radio sounds of whatever's on the stereo at that moment the car is in stealth mode cruising around the neighborhood. __________________ <---- Not Stupid www.notstupid.org The Age of Stupid.... the last age?

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10-03-2007, 09:50 AM	#1
orracle Whaddaya mean "senior" member? Join Date: May 2007 Location: Gurnee, IL Posts: 433 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 8	http://finance.comcast.net/www/news.html?x...;cvqh=itn_takei <_<

10-03-2007, 11:00 AM	#3
madler Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pasadena, California Posts: 281 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I just heard this on the radio this morning. The spokeswoman for some organization is seeking additions to clean car regulations in Maryland to (something like): "require that hybrids sound just like any other car, not matter what the power source of the car". No mention on how exactly to do that. I can imagine giant speakers on the car playing the sound of a Hummer revving its engine. Of course, bicycles don't sound like cars, and they're required to ride on the roads. They're actually a lot quieter than a coasting Prius. A solution might be have hybrid and electric cars make a clicking noise when moving, like a bicycle with playing cards clipped into the spokes.

10-03-2007, 11:06 AM	#4
gippah Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 105 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	This "news" story is a few years old and for some reason was recently recycled. Obviously this is a case of someone trying to manufacture anti-Hybrid news. You'll get used to reading this sort of thing as a Prius owner.

10-03-2007, 11:09 AM	#5
darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern CA Posts: 5,336 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 18 Thanked 44 Times in 32 Posts Friends: 12	Ahhh. I get so tired of this crap. Where is the outrage about the hundreds of thousands of people that car exhaust kills, and the millions that it makes sick? We all have to look out for each other. Adding to the local noise pollution by making quiet cars louder is not the solution. Hey... how about this? Make all the loud cars quieter, and then you can hear the quiet cars...

10-03-2007, 11:14 AM	#7
Skwyre7 What's the catch? Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Richmond, Virginia Posts: 2,332 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Model: Package: N/A Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 2	Why is it always about the blind people not being able to hear the hybrids? What about the deaf people? They can't hear them either! (I know they can see them. It's a joke ... you know, ha ha ... [Silence] Sheesh, now I know how Tony feels. )

10-03-2007, 11:28 AM	#8
zenMachine Just another Onionhead Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 1,985 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #3 Thanks: 5 Thanked 15 Times in 11 Posts Friends: 0	Blind people shouldn't be allowed to drive hybrids. Period.

10-03-2007, 12:23 PM	#9
zenMachine Just another Onionhead Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 1,985 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #3 Thanks: 5 Thanked 15 Times in 11 Posts Friends: 0	All kidding aside, I think it should be easy to implement some kind of RFID-based solution to allow anyone with an RFID receiver to detect an oncoming vehicle. Kinda like how tolltags and tollbooths work. Hey, maybe I should patent this idea!

10-03-2007, 12:25 PM	#10
patsparks An Aussie perspective Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Adelaide South Australia Posts: 9,265 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: Base Thanks: 128 Thanked 185 Times in 143 Posts Friends: 33	What about a pair of those whistles that are meant to scare away roaming animals? or a cow bell?